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You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if youre a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
- academia or research
- arts and culture
- digital technology
You must also be at least 18 years old.
Before you apply for a visa
You can usually only apply for a Global Talent visa if you have successfully applied for an endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader.
You can apply for the visa without an endorsement if youve won an eligible award. Find out which awards are eligible.
Find out what you can do with a Global Talent visa and how to apply for an endorsement if you work in one of the following fields:
If youre not eligible for a Global Talent visa, there are other ways to work in the UK - for example a Skilled Worker visa.
How long you can stay
You can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
Theres no limit to how long you can stay in the UK in total, but you will need to renew (extend) your visa when it expires. Each extension can last from 1 to 5 years - you choose how long you want the extension to be.
You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply. This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if youre eligible.
How to apply
You must apply online.
How you apply depends on whether youre:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
How long it takes
As part of your application, youll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. Youll find out if you need one when you start your application.
Getting a decision
Once youve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, youll usually get a decision on your visa within:
- 3 weeks, if youre outside the UK
- 8 weeks, if youre inside the UK
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Fees
It costs 716 to apply.
If youre applying based on an endorsement, youll pay the 716 in two parts:
- 524 when you apply for the endorsement
- 192 when you apply for the visa itself
If youre applying based on an eligible award, youll pay the full 716 when you apply for the visa.
If youre including your partner or children in your application, theyll each need to pay 716.
Healthcare surcharge
Youll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application - this is usually 1,035 per year for each person applying.
Check how much youll have to pay before you apply.